Taiwan’s deputy representative to India, Hsieh Bor-huei, dies at 52

Hsieh Bor-huei, Taiwan’s deputy representative to India, passed away on Friday evening after collapsing during a public event in New Delhi. He was 52. Officials said the exact cause of death is yet to be ascertained. Hsieh was hosting a reception to felicitate the cast and crew of “Demon Hunters”, a film produced as a collaborative effort between India and Taiwan, when he reportedly began feeling unwell.

According to people present at the venue, he experienced nausea while greeting guests and subsequently suffered a seizure during the programme. Hotel staff immediately stepped in to provide assistance and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before he was rushed to a nearby hospital. Despite sustained medical efforts, doctors were unable to revive him and he was declared dead.

Hsieh’s sudden death has evoked widespread grief in diplomatic and cultural circles. He was known for his active role in promoting India–Taiwan relations, particularly in the areas of culture, cinema and people-to-people exchanges. The event he was hosting was itself a reflection of these growing ties.

In a brief statement issued later the same day, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its condolences on Hsieh’s passing and said it was assisting his family with arrangements related to his death.Friends and colleagues remembered him as a warm and positive individual. “He always carried a smile and radiated positive energy. He even took a selfie during the event and later shared it with everyone. He was a great friend in the diplomatic arena and a pure soul,” a close associate said.